Automatic musical instrument



April 10, 1928.

T. F. CHEEK AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 6, 1922 m i A! 000% E o 0000 o M W fl w! O. O60 6%0 0 \N O O %O Q \N] ooyohw oo flQooooog v M NQ Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOLBERT F. CHEER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

' WELTE COMPANY, 1110., OF NEW YORK, N, Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed October 6, 1922. Serial No. 592,833.

This invention relates to automatic musical instruments and has particular relation to means for connecting and disconnecting tracker duets with the pneumatic mechanisms.

It has been found that the use of tubing reaching all the way from the tracker to the pneumatic mechanism of the musical instrument, is the source of much trouble due to the fact that when it is necessary to remove the tracker bar, the tubes if rubber is used, will crack if they are old, and are stiff. If metal tubes are used, they are so stiff that bending is difiicult if not impossible and more than a few bendings of metal tubing renders it liable to brake off.

In the type of connection where the tubes are rigid and run to a series of openings in the tracker bar unit, there to connect with openings of ducts rigid with the pneumatic mechanism, difficulty, is experienced in obtaining proper registration and also in keeping the connections tightdue, to their inaccessibility.

Considerable trouble in the past has also been experienced in cleaning the valve mechanisms when they became clogged with dust which entered at the tracker duct openings. Means have been devised to prevent the entry of dust to the valve mechanism but these have been placed inpositions which are inaccessible.

My present invention has for an object the provision of an improved means for connecting and disconnecting the tubes leading from the tracker to the pneumatic mechanism in such a manner that the tracker unit may be readily removed for repairs or cleaning but without injury to the tubing.

Another object of my iiwention is the provision of a means for l'irevcnting the entry of dust into the valve mechanism and in such a position as to permit ready removal of dust accumulations.

Another and still. further object of my invention the provision of blocks having complementary portions and arranged at the sides of the tracker, the tracker ducts running to one of the complementary portions and the ducts to the pneumatic mechanism running to the other complementary portion, the block portions having corresponding ducts in registry, to connect the tubes from the tracker to the tubes connected to the pneumatic mechanism.

Referring to the drawing wherein. I have illustrated a form of my invention:

Figure 1 is an elevational. view of the upper portion of a piano showing one form of my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the portions of the block,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, 10 designates the piano case with the upper front panel thereof removed. 11 designates the tracker and 12 the music sheet. 13 is the tracker box behind which and extending from the tracker are the ducts 14 and 15, the ducts 14 extending to the left and the ducts 15 extending to the right when viewed from the front. These ducts 14, 15 enter the rear of the junction blocks 16 and 17, respectively.

At the right of F igure 2 are illustrated the control group of ducts which connect the tracker bar with the expression control devices. I have indicated this group by the reference character 18 on Figure 2. A similar group in the treble is located at the left side of the block 17.

At the left of the block 16 are illustrated the ducts connecting the tracker bar with the note sounding mechanism.

()ne portion of each of the junction blocks 16, 17, and prefereably the front portion, is provided with depressions 19 and 19 into which are placed small pieces of gauze 20, 20. These pieces of gauze in the depressions 19, 19 form pockets through which air may readily pass, but through which lint and dust cannot pass.

The front and rear portions are secured together by bolts or screws 21. shown clearly in Figl'ue 3. The faces of the two portions of the blocks 16, 17 may be made smooth and plane in order to make a tight connection around the ducts; or a suitable perforated washer as of rubber or leather may be used between the portions of the block to make tight the connections.

The connections from the respective front members of the blocks 16, 17. I haveillustrated at 25 and 26, respectively, (Figure 1), these being broken away for the sake of clearness. The tubes 25, 26 may be made of any suitable material as rubber to permit movement of the front members of the blocks l6, 1?. In removing the upper tracker box unit from the piano, it is'only necessary to remove the screws 21 from each block 16, 17, swing the front member to the front, and lift the WllOlG unit from the case of themstrument.

Should any of the ducts become clogged with lint or dush the correspondingblock' 16 or 17 is separated. The dust gauze or screen 20, 20 are then exposed to viei'v. For convenience the connections to the blocks are arranged in order so that When-it is known there is a stoppage in any particular duct, the corresponding gauze or screen 20, 20 may be immeditaely inspected upon separation of the tWO portions of the block.

While I have describedindetail an embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact showing and that modifications and changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and Within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having described my invention, What I claim is 1. In an automatic pneumatic musicalin strument, a junction block comprising a plurality of thin con'ipleni'entary coacting parts, each part having a series of openings cooperating with a corresponding series. 0i openings in another part, tubes leading from the openings from one part and tubes leading from the openings of the complementary memos part a recess in the enacting part toward which. the air travels from the complemen- Ii the openings from one part and tubes leading from the openings of the complementary part, a pocket shaped meansin a recess of the part of the block toward which the flow of air travels for removingdust from the air passing; through the tube passages.

3 In an automatic musical instrument having sounding; devices and pneumatic devices for controlling the same, a tracker unit in the upper partfof the instrument, ducts connecting the tracker. and the pneumatic devices, two thin blocks one at each end of the tracker unit, the ducts arranged in two groups and passing through one or theothei of the blocks, each of the blocks having a portion carrying the duct connections to the tracker and another portion carrying, the duct connections to the pneumatic devices and a pocket shaped means preventing the passage of dust through the blocks.

In testimony whereofI-atlix my signature.

TOLBERT F. GHEEK. 

